Saturday, June 22, 2019

THE MAYFLOWER SOCIETY ~ I’ve begun my journey to join–Come along as I take my first step

Depiction of the signing of the Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Society.  That name has always had bewitching attraction to me.  Who gets into it?  How do they get in?  Could I ever be so lucky?

When I began my genealogy journey back in 2000 I only hoped to learn more about my grandparents and great grandparents and maybe…..who knows, a little further back?

Somewhere along the way, I began to understand that I might be able to join the DAR.  After all, my maternal grandmother (our family historian before me), always said we could be members.

Mission accomplished – I was sworn into the DAR on 6 Feb 2010 under my Patriot, Anthony Bowen, my 5th great grandfather.

NOW, the next BIG step – could I prove a line back to the Mayflower?

Since I have several brick wall ancestors (yes, still) and since I have 4 great grandparents who came over from Europe in the late 1800’s,  how many do I have to choose from, who could have come from a line who came here in 1620?

I haven’t spent every waking hour doing Mayflower research.  I’ve only dabbled here and there.  I’ve spoken to their members at various conferences and watched my friend and fellow blogger, Debby Warner Anderson, go through her application and induction process.  I now attend local Mayflower Society meetings with her and another genealogy friend.  These meetings have gotten me more excited about being a member.

I will cut to the chase here.  I’ve always thought, given what few people I have to choose from, that my best bet would be my paternal 3rd great grandmother’s line.  I believed she could be connected to the DOTY/DOTEN line of Edward Doty, Mayflower passenger.

Who is she? 

Olive G. DOTEN (about 1805-10 Apr 1887) who married Henry Hart.  I have written about my long journey to find a connection between her and her alleged parents, Isaac Doten, Sr. & Sally Follett.  You can read about my big find here FINALLY! Proving the father of my 3rd great grandmother, Olive Doten Hart (1805-1887–WHAT DID I FIND? 

Is that big find, solid enough proof when taken together with other evidence?  I don’t know.  Will it stand up to the rigorous application process?  I don’t know.
 
Once I published that blog post I heard from a reader who is a descendant of the Doty/Doten line.  She sent me some great information which gives me hope.

As of today, I have downloaded the Preliminary Review Form, filled it out and it’s ready to go in the mail this afternoon.  WOOHOO!  It’s a start.
I’ll begin a spreadsheet for this project.  Hopefully the Historians at the California Mayflower Society will see a possibility that I might be a Mayflower passenger descendant.  All I can do is try, right?
I’ll keep you all informed as I take this journey.  Let’s hope it is a journey and not a dead end.
  • Have any of you applied to join the Mayflower Society? 
  • If so, how long did it take you to complete your application process? 
  • Was it difficult?
  • Did you succeed? 
  • What advice would you give someone like me?
  • Wouldn't it be great to be admitted in 2020 - the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower?
Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl
Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

11 comments:

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    1. Thanks Carl. I’m hopeful, but realistic. It would be nice though.

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  2. Fingers crossed for you! Maybe we can meet up at one of the 400th anniversary events in Plymouth next year.

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    1. Wouldn’t that be fun Heather? Let’s hope we can make it happen.

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    2. SOO hope so! Would you e-mail me a copy of your worksheet? Let me see what I can do with it to help?

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  3. I've never applied for DAR although I have several ancestors who have been approved or need to be re-done as documenting the lines has become more strict. I was able to provide an applicant with images of a family bible which were helped with the connection to her patriot's line. https://openingdoorsinbrickwalls.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/a-family-bible-an-application-for-dar-and-genealogy-networking/
    As for the Mayflower, I haven't taken any of my American lines back far enough to get them into the New England states area. But it is something to think about. Good luck, Diane! Happy hunting.

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  4. I look forward to reading about the process and your progress. I know I have many Mayflower ancestors, but I have never joined a lineage society.

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    1. Maybe I will inspire you Miriam. It’s fun to go through the process. At least it was with DAR. And my friend Debby was so excited when she was finally approved for the Mayflower Society. This gives me something to shoot for, a goal to achieve.
      Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy hearing from you.

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  5. Thank-you for the mention Diane! I sure hope you can prove the line. If the connection is there I am sure that with your research skills you will be able to find it.

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    1. You’re welcome Deb. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Sure hope I can join you and Darlene wearing an "official" name badge at the Mayflower Society meetings in the near future.

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I look forward to reading your comments. If you have any connection to the people mentioned in this blog, please let me know. I write about mine and my husband's ancestors and would welcome new information or meeting a new cousin or two. Thanks for visiting and come back soon.